Speedy Jim wrote:
Jay wrote:

Hi,
We've been in our house for about six months and recently we started
losing hot water.
It would last for only about 10 mins or so then run out. We figured
that since the water heater
was somewhat old (2000) that we should just replace it. We bought
pretty much
the same one, a 50 gallon GE electric water heater. After a couple
of weeks we're still seeing
the same problem, even with the 1st shower of the day. I've got the
temp pumped up to
like 135-140 degrees. That seemed to help but it not the solution.
Any ideas what else this could be? I've ordered a low flow shower
head.
Thanks,
Jay


Do the tests on the elements/thermostats.
If all checks OK, there might be a "bypass"
occurring between cold supply and hot lines.

This can occur inside a single-handle faucet
cartridge (even when OFF) or in a washing machine
solenoid valve. Less likely, there might be a
temperature compensating valve in the system.

Also, check that the heater was plumbed correctly;
Cold supply to the nipple marked "COLD". It's an
easy mistake to make and produces exactly your symptoms
when done backwards.

Jim

The latter is my thought as well, running out of hot water quickly is a
classic symptom of a lack of dip tube, which would explain the failure
of the first water heater ('cause it was old and the dip tube fell
apart) and also the continuing symptoms from the second ('cause it got
inadvertantly hooked up backwards.)

nate

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